Electric hair dryer for use as a hand or table appliance



Dec. 17, 1957. E. M. scHElD 2,817,000

ELECTRIC vHAIR DRYER FOR USE AS A HAND OR TABLE APPLIANCE Filed May l5, 1956 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17, 1957 E. M. scHElD 2,817,000

ELECTRIC HAIR DRYER FOR USE AS A HAND 0R TABLE APPLIANCE Filed May l5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O assigner to Vorwerk & Co., Wuppertal-Barmen, Germanyy Application -May 15, .1956, vSerial-No. 585,033

Claims. (CII 2192-39) The present invention relates to drier apparatus.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a hair drier apparatus which is particularly adapted for houseA hold use.

It isan object of the present .invention to .provide a drier apparatus which is .readily portable in that it may very easily be grasped by hand,` which drier apparatus is also adapted to be placed onto a supportingsurface and be permitted lto rest thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide adrierapparatus lwhich is of rugged construction, which has .a pleasing appearance, and which may be mass produced at very lowcost.

Withthe above objects in view, the presen-t invention mainly resides ina drier apparatus which. includes a drier housingthat is soconstructed and shaped as to be'capabl'e of being placed onto and rest upon asupporting surface and also so as to be capable'of beingy grasped by hand.

The. novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, howevergboth as to .its construction and .its methodof operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following-description of specic embodiments when read in connection with'the accompanyin drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of ya preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom View of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a substantially horizontal. sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Fig.v l; and

Fig. 4 is. asectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig..l.

Referring now to the drawings, there. is shown apreferred `embodiment of a drier apparatus according to the present invention. The drier is formed with a hollow drier housing composed -of a pair of mirror-symmetrical shells 1 and.2 and a nozzle member 3, these parts .preferably being made of an electrically insulating and breakage resistant material, as, for example, a synthetic material such as polyamide, phenolic resin. The shells 1 and 2 are connected to each other in any suitable ,manner as, for example, by a pair of screws 4 and 5 (Figs. l and 2). Also, each of theshells may be formed with a bossportion, theboss portion of each shell being so shaped that both boss portions together form a substantially frustoconical protuberance. The latter is surrounded by a retaining cap 7 which is held in place by'a screw"6,vthe latter threadedly engaging a nut 8. The nut may` be a square one and seat within suitably shaped recesses within the shells 1 and 2 in such a manner as to be non-rotatable relative to the shells.

The shells 1 and 2 are so shaped that at their upper end they form an annular opening, and the nozzle member 3 encompassestheshells 1 and 2in the manner best shown in Fig. 1. The nozzle member 3 Ymay be secured to the shells 1 and 2 by one or more screws 3a.

',fhe shells 1 and 2 and thenozzle member 3 together ICC form a hollow drierhousing,` the lower .part of which constitutes a bottom portion A; the intermediate p art of whichconstitutes a handle portion B, and the upper part ofwhich` constitutes a' blower portion Cand an outlet portion D, theseportions being consecutivein the manner indicated.

The/bottom portion/X' is soshaped thatithe drier housing may beplaced ontoandrrest upona substantially at supporting surface S'and the handle portionv B is so shaped as to'enable the drier housing to be easily grasped by hand. In this way, it is possible to place the drier apparatus upon a table or easily to hold it by hand] This is especially desirable when a hair drier for household use is involved.

rl`he shells 1 and 2` are formed 'with bottom wall por-- tions 1a and 2a, respectively, which bottom wall portions constitute a bottom wall 19.' Thelatter is formed with openings such as slots 19a, the latter constituting air inlet means through whichair may be sucked into the interior ofthe drier housing.l As may readily be seen from the drawings, the shells 1 and `2 .are formed with leg portions 1b, 1C and 2b, 2c, respectively.. The drier housing is thus formed'with three leg means constituted, respectively, by the leg portion 1b, the leg portion 2b, and the composite ieg portion .formedby the leg portions 1c and 2c. The ieg means maintain the bOttomwall 19 spaced from the supporting surface .S upon which the drier4 housing rests. so that the air inlet means 19a are in communication with the. surroundingA atmosphere. In this way, air may freely be sucked into the interior of the drier housing when the same rests. upon the surface S.

The nozzle 3"is formed with an opening 3b constituting an air -outlet means through which air sucked into the interior ofthe drier housingma-y be. expelled.

A ring,9 made offresilient material encompassesthe drier housingin the region of the juncture of the. nozzle member 3 Yand the shells .1 and`2'.' The .ring ,9 serves asa shock absorbing element and is adapted vto engage the surface S upon which the drier housing isrestingin ,the event of topping or overturningof the housing. In this way, thedangerof breakage of the parts .is obviated..

Suitable. blower means are providedforsucking. in air through the air inlet-means 19a and expelling the air through the air outlet means 3b. The blower means includes a blower fan..13' drivenby au electric. motor 12 which' is preferablyV ofthe universaltype.v so as to be adapted to be energized either by an alternatingfor direct current source. The fan.,13 and the ,motor 12 are. both arranged in the lower portion C, the motorr4 12 being mounted in any suitable manner suchy as :airesilient .ring 12a.

Aheating element l0 is arranged in the outlet .portion D formed bythe nozzle member 3, theheating element 10 being pressed by a spring 11 against an abutment fplatelct fastened to .the nozzlemember 3 by means of. screws 10b.

It desired, suitable iiow directing means such as Vvanes or ribs 20 may be provided in the outlet portionD for causing Athe air expelled through the air outlet means to travel alonga pathwhich forms a Vcontinuaticnof the l.axis yof the nozzle member. The ribs 20 may be constructed integrally with the nozzle member-3.

Thel motor12'andthe heating ,element 10 are electrically connected to a` control switch 21, a condenser 14 being provided in order to suppress .radio and television interference. A power supply cord 17 which` passes through a grommet 18 is also electrically connected to the switch 21, and the latter is so wired that the switch handle 21a is movable between an ot positionwherein neither the motor 12'nor theheating element 10 is energized, a cooliairv position wherein thejmtor 124sh e rjgized .but .the heating element 10 isnot, and a .h'o't`a1 position'fwherein both'theV motor. 12V andthe' heating element 10 are energized. In this way, either cool'or hot air 3 may be expelled through the air outlet means 3b, depending upon the position of the switch handle 21a.

Also, it will be seen that the motor 12 is in the path of the air sucked in by the fan 13, so that the motor is cooled by the incoming air as it moves through the blower portion C.

In the preferred embodiment the control switch 21 is so located as to be capable of being operated by the hand grasping the drier housing at the handle portion B. It will be understood, however, that the switch 21 may be positioned in any other suitable manner.

As may best be seen in Fig. 1, the axis of the tubular nozzle member 3 is upwardly inclined relative to the supporting surface S upon which the drier housing rests. As a result, air expelled through the air outlet means 3b will travel along a path which, when the drier housing rests upon a substantially horizontal supporting surface, is upwardly inclined. It has been found that the best results are obtained when the angle between the axis of the nozzle member 3 and the surface S is between 26 and 30, with 28 being preferred.

if desired, the nozzle member 3 may be formed with a slight taper, thereby making it possible for a vaporizer 23 to be attached to the drier apparatus. The vaporizer may be used to spray disinfectants, deodorizers, insecti cides, etc.

Also, the tapered shape of the nozzle member 3 may be used to amx thereto a conduit or tube by means of which heated air is supplied. For example, such exterior lcqoniuit may be used to supply heated air to a hair drying A nameplate 22 or the like is ahxed to the drier housing.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also ind a useful application in other types of drier apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a hair drier apparatus for household use, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations `should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a hollow drier housing having consecutive upper, intermediate and lower portions, said intermediate portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be grasped by hand and said lower portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be placed onto and rest upon a supporting surface.

2. A drier apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow drier housing having consecutive upper, intermediate and lower portions, said intermediate portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be grasped by hand and said lower portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be placed onto and rest upon a sup porting surface, said drier housing being formed with air inlet means opening at said lower portion and air outlet means opening at said upper portion; and combined blower and heater means in said upper portion of said drier housing for sucking in air through said air inlet means, heating the sucked in air, and thereafter expelling the heated air through said air outlet means.

l 3. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said lower portion is formed with a bottom wall and wherein said air inlet means extend through said bottom wall, said lower portion further including leg means for maintaining said bottom wall spaced from a supporting surface upon which said drier housing may rest, said leg means being so constructed and arranged that said air inlet means are in communication with atmosphere when said drier housing rests upon a supporting surface, thereby enabling said combined blower and heater means freely to suck in air through said air inlet means when said drier housing rests upon a supporting surface.

4. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said air outlet means are so constructed and arranged that air expelled therethrough travels along a path which, when said drier housing rests upon a substantially horizontal supporting surface, is upwardly inclined.

5. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said air outlet means are so constructed and arranged that air expelled therethrough travels along a path which, when said drier housing rests upon a substantially horizontal supporting surface, is upwardly inclined and forms an angle of between 26 to 30 with the horizontal.

6. A drier apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow drier housing having consecutive outlet, blower, handle and bottom portions, said outlet portion being formed with air outlet means, said handle portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be grasped by hand, and said bottom portion being formed with air inlet means and being so shaped that said drier housing may be placed onto and rest upon a supporting surface; blower means in said blower portion for sucking in air through said air inlet means and expelling the sucked in air through said air outlet means; and heater means in said outlet portion for heating air being moved therethrough by said blower means, thereby heating the air so that heated air is expelled through said air outlet means.

7. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said blower means include a motor in said blower portion of said drier housing, said motor being arranged in the path of the air sucked in by said blower means so that said motor is cooled by air moving through said blower portion.

8. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 7 further including control means connected to said motor and said heater means for controlling the same, said control means being arranged in said handle portion of said drier housing.

9. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said motor and said heater means are electric, and wherein said control means include switch means electrically connected to said motor and said heater means.

10. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said drier housing is composed of a pair of mirror-symmetrical shells together forming said blower, handle and bottom portions and an annular nozzle member joining said shells and forming said outlet portion.

l1. A drier apparatus as defined in claim lO wherein said blower means include a motor and mounting means for mounting the same in said blower portion.

l2. A drier apparatus as deiined in claim ll wherein said mounting means include a resilient ring member encompassing said motor.

13. A drier apparatus as defined in claim l0, and ow directing means in said outlet portion for causing the air expelled through said air outlet means to travel along a path forming a continuation of the axis of said nozzle member forming said outlet portion.

14. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said flow directing means are integral with said nozzle member forming said outlet portion.

l5. A drier apparatus as defined in claim l0, and a shock-absorbing element on said drier housing in the region of said outlet portion thereof, said element being arranged exteriorly of said housing and adapted to engage the supporting surface upon which said drier housing is resting in the event of overturning of said drier housing, thereby preventing breakage thereof.

16. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said shock-absorbing element is constituted by a ring made of resilient material and encompassing said drier housing in the region of the juncture of said nozzle member and said shells.

17. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said shells and said nozzle member are made of an electrically insulating material.

18. A drier apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said shells and said nozzle member are made of a synthetic material.

19. A drier and vaporizer apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow drier housing having consecutive upper, intermediate and lower portions, said intermediate portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be grasped by hand and said lower portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be placed onto and rest upon a supporting surface, said drier housing being formed with air inlet means opening at said lower portion and air outlet means opening at said upper portion; combined blower and heater means in said upper portion of said drier housing for sucking in air through said air inlet means, heating the sucked in air, and thereafter expelling the heated air through said air outlet means; and vaporizer means connected to said housing adjacent said air outlet means thereof for vaporizing the heated air expelled therethrough.

20. A drier apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow drier housing having consecutive upper, intermediate and lower portions, said intermediate portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be grasped by hand and said lower portion being so shaped that said drier housing may be placed onto and rest upon a supporting surface, said drier housing being formed with air inlet means opening at one of said portions and air outlet means opening at said upper portion; and combined blower and heater means in said upper portion of said drier housing for sucking in air through said air inlet means, heating the sucked in air, and thereafter expelling the heated air through said air outlet means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,646,365 Willis Oct. 18, 1927 1,727,212 Martin Sept. 3, 1929 1,961,772 Martin June 5, 1934 2,201,506 Smith May 2l, 1940 2,678,376 Lockwood May 1l, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,065,098 France Dec. 30, 1953 

